Inhaler.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

G. ERMOLD.

INHALER. APPLICATION FILED APE.25. 1906. RENEWED MAY 7, 1908.

A TTOHNE Y8- GEORGE ERMOLD, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

INHALER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Application filedApril 25, 1906, Serial No. 313,688. Renewed May 7, 1908. Serial No. 431,334.

This invention relates to inhalers for ad- I ministering anesthetics, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which embodies improved means for regulating the admission of air and the anesthetic to the face-piece.

A further object of the invention is to furnish an improved construction by which the frangible anesthetic-containing tube or capsule may be broken in such a manner that the contents thereof may be inhaled by the patient.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for receiving the broken fragments of the tube and for mounting the vapor-receiving bag into which the contents of the broken tube or capsule issue.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents ,a side-elevation of my improved inhaler for administering anesthetics, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, drawn on a larger scale, and with the gasholding bag or receptacle removed, Fig. 3 is a plan-view of Fig. 2, Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections, on line 4, 4, Fig. 2, showing the regulatingwalve respectively in closed and openposition, and Fig. 6 is a detail vertical transverse section, on line 6, 6, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different :[igures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, (1. represents the conical face-piece of my improved inhaler. The face-piece is made in the usual size and shape, and provided with an interior screen I) of wire-gauze so that it can be used in the ordinary way for the open drop method of administering anesthetics. Into the upper socket-shaped end a of the face-piece a is inserted the vertical portion (1 of an angular main-tube, the horizontal portion cl of which extends at right angles to the vertical tube. A cage 6 is insertedby one end into the horizontal portion (1 of the main-tube, while its outer end is provided with a grooved collar 0 for the contracted end or neck of a vaporbag or receptacle r. The cage e is provided with screens c the frames of which are attached to longitudinal wires 6, the outer end of the cage being formed of curved intersecting wires 6" for placing the neck of the bag or reservoir 1 in position on the collar 0 Above the horizontal portion (1 of the angular main-tube is arranged a tubef, which is open at one end and connected at its opposite end by an inclined portion f with an opening 0 in the horizontal portion (1, the tube being arranged approximately parallel with the portion (1 and closed by means of a tubular cap-piece which is placed over the tube f and which serves for pushing in the glass-tube t containing the anesthetic so that its point is broken oil by the forcible contact with the inclined tube-portion f, the broken off pieces being dropped into the tube d, while the glass-tube is retained in position in the tube fby means of the tubular cap-piece As soon as the point of the glass-tube is broken off the liquid anesthetic is evaporated and expanded through the opening 0 into the bag 1' so as to inflate the same. The vertical portion (1 of the maintube is provided with openings 0 at diametrically-opposite sides for the admission of air. The openings in the tubular portion (1 are closed by means of a cup-shaped valve g which is centrally pivoted to a stationary diaphragm g in the vertical tube, and provided in its side-wall with side-openings 0 which can be placed in or out of register with the openings 0. The valve gis providedwith a handle 9 which extends through one of the openings 0 to the outside of the tube (1, and which serves for turning the valve g. The diaphragm g has recesses n which register with recesses n in the upper wall of the valve 9, so as to permit the opening or closing of the valve whenever the anesthetic vapors are to be delivered from the bag 1' to the facepiece or to be shut off from the same.

The valve 9 is normally retained in position so as to be closed on the inside and open to the outside. In this position of the valve the face-piece is applied over the nose and mouth and air inhaled through the registering side-openings 0 0*. No vapors can yet pass from the bag 1- to the face-piece. The valve is then partly opened so as to admit a small quantity of the anesthetic vapors to the face-piece, and then entirely opened so as to admit a still greater quantity of the vapors to pass to the face-piece, while simultaneously the atmospheric air is excluded as the openings 0 are placed out of register and the recesses of the diaphragm and valve into register, so that the anesthetic is' administered to the patient. The lower end of the vertical portion (Z of the main-tube is tightly fitted into the upper socket-shaped end of the conical face-piece a, so that the latter can be readily detached therefrom for use for the open drop method with ether or other anesthetic in the well-known manner, and also for cleaning the same. The empty glass-tube t is then removed from the-tube f by removing the tubular cap and the broken oii point or pieces of glass are removed with the cage from the horizontal portion of the main-tube and dropped from the same, the screens retaining the broken off pieces and preventing them from passing into the valve 9 or bag 1". The cage is then replaced, the valve g closed towards the bag 7" and opened towards the atmosphere, and a new glass-tube containing the anesthetic placed in the auxiliary-tube and inclosed therein by the sliding-cap of the same, so that the inhaler is ready for the next application.

The advantages of my improved inhaler are that the glass-tubes containing the anesthetics, whether in liquid or vapor form, can be broken or opened at the inside of the in- ;haler so as to expand into the vapor-bag or receptacle without any loss of anesthetic when the regulating-valve is closed; and that the quantity of anesthetic to be delivered can be readily regulated by partly or ;entirely opening the valve; also that the broken off pieces of glass cannot be dropped into the soft-rubber bag and injure the same, or into the regulating-valve for interfering with the working of the same, while they can j be readily removed after use of the inhaler.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An inhaler for administering anesthetics, comprising a main-tube, a receptacle communicating with said tube and adapted to receive the anesthetic-containing tube or capsule, a cage slidable in said tube at the point where said receptacle communicates therewith and provided with means to retain the glass fragments, and a bag carried by said cage at its outer end.

2. An inhaler for administering anesthetics comprising a main-tube, a receptacle for "the anesthetic-containing tube or capsule communicating with said tube, and a cage slidable in said tube and freely removable therefrom, said cage communicating at its middle portion with said receptacle and having at both ends a gauze closure to retain the broken glass.

3. An inhaler for administering anesthetics, comprising a main-tube, a receptacle for the anesthetic-containing tube or capsule communicating with said tube, a cage slidable in said tube and-freely removable therefrom, said cage having at both ends a closure to retain the broken glass, and a vapor-com taining bag carried by said cage.

4. In an inhaler for administering anesthetics, the combination, with the maintube, of a cage slidable in said tube and freely removable therefrom, a collar carried by said cage, and a vapor-bag having its neck applied to said collar.

5. An inhaler for administering anesthetics, consisting of a con cal face-piece, an

angular main-tube inserted into the upper.

part of the same, said angular tube being provided with air-openings, an admissionvalve for the air and vapors, located in the main-tube adjacent to said openings, a cage inserted into the laterally-extending portion of the main-tube and provided with screens at the opposite ends and with means at its outer end for applying the vapor-bag thereto, a tubular receptacle communicating with the laterally-extending portion of the maintube for inserting a glass-tube containing the anesthetic, and a cylindrical cap sliding over said receptacle and adapted for breaking oil of the point of the glass-tube.

6. An inhaler for administering anesthetics, consisting of an angular main-tube, a detachable conical face-piece applied to the vertical portion of the main-tube, a cage inserted into the horizontal portion of the main-tube and provided with screens located within said horizontal portion and with. an outer portion for receiving the eXpansible vaporbag, a tubular receptacle for the glasstube containing the anesthetic, a tubular cap for said receptacle, an inclined tube connecting said receptacle with the cage-receiving portion of the main-tube, and a regulatingvalve in the vertical portion of the main tube for permitting air and vapors to pass through said vertical portion into the facepiece.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ERMOLD.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, HENRY J. SUHRBIER. 

